Carousel rack for saddles

ABSTRACT

A device for storing up to eight saddles on a one or two level rotating rack, comprising a T-shaped base, a support pole with a plurality of hooks at the top end, and one or two collars placed at intervals along the support pole that freely rotate about the support pole. Attached to these collars are a plurality of bent U-shaped supports for holding saddles and saddle blankets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Art

[0002] The invention relates generally to a device for storing and supporting horseback riding accessories and more specifically to a rack for storing and supporting from one to eight saddles, including the associated saddle blankets, on a rotational carousel allowing several saddles to be easily stored and retrieved in a relatively small space.

[0003] 2. Background of the Art

[0004] Saddle racks have been developed to keep saddles from being stored on the ground, or in other haphazard fashions, which can subject them to dirt, excessive wear, and damage. Several prior art saddle racks hold only one saddle. The prior art saddle racks for holding multiple saddles stack saddles on top of one another in a vertical fashion, making it difficult to reach the top-most saddle. Additionally, most of these saddle racks are fixed to a wall, which does not allow for them to be moved or used in a variety of areas. Most of these saddle racks do not contain additional racks for blankets which are commonly used under the saddle while riding, requiring the purchase of separate blanket racks, or requiring the user to store the blankets underneath or on top of the saddle, again exposing the saddle to sweat and dirt, and not allowing for sufficient circulation to dry the blankets between uses. This can cause mildew and mold to accumulate and deteriorate the saddle blanket, and can result in discomfort and injury to the horse if re-used while wet.

[0005] This invention allows for one to eight saddles to be stored in a relatively small space. The rotational movement of the rack allows for easy access to any of the eight saddles. This is also helpful when cleaning saddles, as the user can remain in place while cleaning multiple saddles. The preferred embodiment of the invention further includes a blanket bar to allow for storage of the proper blanket with each saddle. The blanket bar is mounted a sufficient distance beneath each saddle support to allow for enough air circulation to dry the blankets.

[0006] The saddle rack allows for use of either one or two subunits. If four or fewer saddles are stored, only one base subunit is used. If more saddles need to be stored, the user can attach an additional subunit to the base saddle rack. Each subunit stores the saddles at the same, convenient height for ease of access. Furthermore, each saddle support and blanket rack combination is removable from the collar subunit to allow for even more flexibility. The entire unit is easily deconstructed and moved rather than affixed to a wall, permitting the saddle rack to be easily modified and transported for use in a variety of areas both at home and away.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention relates to a rack for storing multiple saddles and saddle blankets consisting of a base member having a base plate with a support post attached to the medial point of the upper surface of the base plate and two L-shaped base posts extending horizontally from the lower surface of the base plate. The base posts have a platform welded to the upper side of the bend in the posts. The platform on the base posts is attached to the base plate by a plurality of fasteners.

[0008] The support post consists of two portions that extend generally upwards, ending in a top portion comprising a plurality of hooks. At intervals along the support post, one or two collars are positioned around and freely rotate about the support post. Attached to these collars is a multiplicity of saddle supports which extend perpendicularly to the support post, curve generally upwards, and then curve back to the horizontal at an angle perpendicular to the initial portion of the saddle support, and fork into an upper and lower arm. To opposite sides of the upper arm are attached narrow side members, which extend outwards from the upper arm at acute angles to the horizontal in a downward direction. The upper arm and side members support the saddle; the lower arm supports the saddle blanket.

[0009] These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following specification, drawings, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rack configured to hold six saddles.

[0011]FIG. 2a is an exploded view of base plate, support post, and collar.

[0012]FIG. 2b is an exploded view of support post, base plate, and L-shaped rods.

[0013]FIG. 2c is an exploded view of L-shaped rods, support post, collar, and saddle support.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a side view of collar-saddle support connection using fasteners.

[0015]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of collar-saddle support connection using pins and teardrop-shaped notches.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] In the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a saddle rack 10 of the present invention configured to hold up to six saddles, using two subunits that support up to three saddles each. A lower portion of the support post 14 is rigidly affixed to a center point of the upper surface of a base plate 11. FIG. 2a shows the upper portion of a support post 15 fitting over the top of the lower portion of the support post 14. To the top of the upper portion of the support post 15 are four hooks 16 that have their lower end rigidly affixed to the top of the upper portion of the support post 15 and extend generally upwardly to hold bridles or other hanging materials. Collars 20 are slid over the support post and are supported at the desired height on the upper 15 or lower 14 portion of the support post using a pin (not shown) passed horizontally through holes 18 on the support post underneath the collar 20. The collars 20 are then restricted from moving vertically along the support post 14, 15, but are freely rotatable around the support post 14, 15. Collars 20 can also be configured to support up to four saddles.

[0017]FIG. 2b shows the bottom surface of the base plate 11 as it is connected to a pair of cylindrical L-shaped rods 12 a,b with a plurality of fasteners 17. The rods 12 a,b are rigidly affixed to the base plate 11 at their centers. The L-shaped rods 12 extend generally in the horizontal direction to form a wide base for the saddle rack 10.

[0018]FIG. 2c shows generally the attachment and orientation of a saddle support 30 to the collar 20. A plate 31 of the saddle support 30 attaches one of two ways to a brace 23 on the collar 20. The bent U-shape portion of the saddle support 30 has three continuous portions. A first portion 33 extends perpendicularly and horizontally out of the center point of a base 31 of the saddle support 30. A second portion 34 curves generally upwards and at a right angle to the first portion 33. A third portion forks into an upper arm 36 and a lower arm 35 which lie in the horizontal plane at angles perpendicular to the first portion 33. To opposite sides of the upper arm 36 are attached narrow side members 37, which extend outwards from the upper arm at acute angles to the horizontal in a downward direction. The upper arm 36 and side members 37 combine to form a wide base to support the saddle in a position mimicking the position of the saddle on a horse's back. The lower arm 35 forms a bar on which to hold a saddle blanket or the like.

[0019]FIGS. 3 and 4 show alternate ways in which to connect the collar 20 to the saddle support 30. In both systems, the neck of the collar 21 is firmly attached to the braces of the collar 22 at both the top and bottom. FIG. 3 displays a semi-permanent method in which the brace of the collar 22 is attached to the plate 31 of the saddle support 30 using a nut and bolt 23 a. FIG. 4 shows a less permanent method in which a teardrop shaped notch 32 in the plate 31 of the saddle support is fitted over a pin 23 b on the brace 22 of the collar 20. The plate is then slid in a downward direction to lock the pin 23 into the narrower upper portion of the notch 32.

[0020] Once assembled, the user operates the saddle rack by moving the saddle supports 30 around the center axis of the support post 14, 15 until the desired saddle is available.

[0021] The foregoing description comprises illustrative embodiments of the present inventions. The foregoing embodiments and the methods described herein may vary based on the ability, experience, and preference of those skilled in the art. Merely listing the steps of the method in a certain order does not necessarily constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of the method. The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the claims are so limited. Those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention. 

We claim:
 1. A rack unit for storing saddles, comprising: (a) a base plate; (b) base rods attached to lower surface of the base plate, the base rods extending in a horizontal direction; (c) a support post extending upward from upper surface of the base plate; (d) one or more collars rotatably affixed to the support post; and (e) a multiplicity of saddle supports removably affixed to the collars.
 2. The rack unit defined in claim 1 where the base rods comprise two L-shaped cylindrical bars with a horizontally affixed platform at the upper portion of the bend and having the platforms affixed to the base plate with a plurality of fasteners.
 3. The rack unit defined in claim 1 where the support post is rigidly affixed to center axis of the base plate.
 4. The rack unit defined in claim 1, top of the support post comprising a multiplicity of hooks curving generally upwards.
 5. The rack unit defined in claim 1 where the collars are comprised of a cylindrical tube surrounding the support post and a plurality of slightly raised braces attached to the collar at both the top and bottom of the collar, and slightly raised from and running parallel to the long axis of the collar.
 6. The rack unit defined in claim 1 where the collars are supported by a pin passed horizontally through a series of holes in the support post.
 7. The rack unit defined in claim 1 where the saddle supports comprise: (a) a fixed plate containing a two keyhole shaped notches; (b) a bent U-shaped bar initially extending perpendicularly from the center of the fixed plate, bending generally upwards, then forking to form an upper and lower fork, where both forks extend horizontally and at an angle perpendicular to the initial horizontal portion of the U-shaped bar; and (c) a pair of narrow side members attached to the upper fork of the bent U-shaped bar and extending substantially opposite to each other, each of the side frame member forming a planar supporting surface being located at an acute angle to the horizontal in a downwardly manner.
 8. The saddle support defined in claim 1 where the plate is affixed to the collars using a plurality of fasteners.
 9. The saddle support defined in claim 1 where the plate is removably affixed to pins on the collars using a teardrop-shaped notch. 